By Lone Lourens | Marketing and Fundraising Manager
1. Advancing Our Solar Energy Project
We are pleased to report steady progress on our solar energy initiative at Woodside Sanctuary, made possible through the unwavering dedication of Mr Kasango and Ms Veale. Both individuals have actively mobilised support from their respective Rotary Clubs, working toward the goal of qualifying for Rotary International’s assistance.
While fundraising is well underway, meeting Rotary International’s funding criteria requires more Rotary Clubs to commit financially to the project. To bridge this gap, we have expanded our search for additional funding sources.
We are proud to announce that, with the invaluable assistance of Ms Veale, we secured a grant from the Lester and Joan Connock Trust. This generous contribution enabled the upgrade of Woodside’s DB boards and the acquisition of certificates of compliance—an essential first step in preparing for solar installation.
This project remains a key priority for Woodside, with even the smallest solar system projected to save us up to R867,066.54 annually—making a significant impact on our long-term sustainability.
2. Growing the 500 Club – A Strategic Focus for 2025
Woodside Sanctuary's 500 Club is a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting the care of residents with profound intellectual and physical disabilities. Members contribute a subscription fee, and in return, they are entered into bi-monthly draws with cash prizes.
Growing our 500 Club is a central focus for 2025. With a target of 2,000 members, this initiative could generate an annual income of R1.2 million—directly supporting the care of our angels.
To support this goal, our Junior Marketing Coordinator, Balungile Memani, launched the “500 Reasons Why” campaign. The campaign includes three key phases:
Five to Thrive – Educating supporters about the 500 Club.
Raise Your Hand – Encouraging sign-ups and engagement.
High Five Heroes – Celebrating and recognising existing members.
Launched on March 3, 2025, the campaign is supported by a refreshed logo and an easy-to-use online sign-up form. With ongoing commitment, we are confident this campaign will achieve its ambitious targets.
3. Expanding Resident Numbers
As part of our mission to reach more individuals in need, Woodside is actively working to increase our resident numbers in 2025. This initiative is supported by strengthened partnerships with local care organisations, many of which now regard Woodside as a trusted referral centre for individuals with profound intellectual and physical disabilities.
Our social worker and nursing manager are working closely to assess new referrals, ensuring each individual’s care needs align with our services. This process supports seamless admissions and reinforces our commitment to holistic, compassionate care.
Welcoming more residents allows us to extend hope to more families while continuing to uphold our mission of excellence in care.
4. A Proactive Approach to Maintenance
Woodside Sanctuary has adopted a proactive approach to maintenance, focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks before they affect the safety or well-being of our residents and staff.
This includes:
Regular inspections of facilities and grounds.
Early detection of structural wear and equipment malfunctions.
Ongoing maintenance of essential systems such as water purification and therapeutic equipment.
This approach reflects our unwavering commitment to providing a secure, well-maintained environment where our residents and staff can thrive.
5. Advancements in Education and Training
Our collaboration with the Department of Education continues to strengthen our educational offerings. Notably, one of our teachers recently achieved Level 5 accreditation in Early Childhood Development (ECD), enhancing the learning experiences available to our residents.
In addition, three of our residents were successfully placed in autism-specific schools, allowing them to benefit from specialised support and reach their full potential.
Through this partnership, we remain dedicated to delivering high-quality, individualised education that empowers our residents.
6. Annual Nappy Drive – A Record-Breaking Success
This year’s annual nappy drive was a resounding success, raising an incredible R60,156.40—exceeding our target by R10,000. These funds enabled us to purchase towelling fabric and produce over 700 new nappies for our residents.
A heartfelt thank you to Bernina RSA for once again going the extra mile by cutting and overlocking all the nappies and even creating face cloths from the leftover fabric. Their continued generosity is deeply appreciated.
7. Progress on Woodside’s Website
Although progress on our new website has taken longer than anticipated, we are now moving forward with renewed momentum. Our dedicated volunteer Sisanda has been designing the layout, and developer Shahin Ramchand—sourced via the ForGood platform—is now assisting with development.
With Shahin now able to commit more time, we’re holding regular meetings and remain optimistic about a successful launch in the near future.
We are also evaluating tools that will allow us to manage the site internally, ensuring an up-to-date and sustainable online presence.
8. Celebrations at Woodside Sanctuary
Christmas Celebrations
Our annual Christmas festivities brought joy and connection to the Woodside community. Held on December 13th, the celebrations included two staff events and a special resident celebration featuring Santa Claus, entertainment, and gifts. A warm thank you to Trustgro Development (Pty) Ltd for their generous contribution towards meals at these events.
Upcoming Easter Celebration
We’re excited for our Easter celebration on April 17th. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we received a large supply of marshmallow Easter eggs for the residents’ Easter egg hunt. The day will be filled with fun activities and remains one of the most anticipated events of the year.
In Closing
As the first months of 2025 pass, we reflect with deep gratitude on the incredible support we've received. None of our work would be possible without the kindness and generosity of our donors and community members.
A special thank you to our supporters on GlobalGiving, whose continued contributions help us fulfil our mission. Together, we are creating a brighter, more sustainable future for our angels and their families.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
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